Turf groomer

Abstract

A turf groomer for grooming and maintaining synthetic turf including a base structure, and at least one brush arm, at least one rotating member, and a plurality of rake tines connected to the base structure. The at least one brush arm has a plurality of arm segments and is positioned at a front region of the base structure. The at least one rotating member has one or more prongs extending radially from its center, is positioned along an axis of rotation, and is distally spaced from the at least one brush arm. The plurality of rake tines is distally spaced from the at least one rotating member. The turf groomer may include a second brush arm positioned at a rear region of the base structure, and a static reducing device to inhibit the buildup of static electricity as the turf groomer passes over the turf, and/or an extension brush arm.

1 . A turf groomer comprising:
 a base structure;   at least one brush arm operatively connected to the base structure wherein the brush arm includes a plurality of arm segments;   at least one rotating member operatively connected to the base structure and distally spaced from the at least one brush arm, the at least one rotating member including one or more prongs extending radially from its center and positioned along an axis of rotation; and   a plurality of rake tines operatively connected to the base structure,   wherein the base structure has a front region and a rear region, and the at least one brush arm being located proximate the front region and,   wherein the at least one rotating member is located between the at least one brush arm and the plurality of rake tines.   
     
     
         2 . The turf groomer according to  claim 1  wherein adjacent arm segments of the at least one brush arm are located with respect to one another at angles selected from the group consisting of right angles, obtuse angles, and acute angles. 
     
     
         3 . The turf groomer according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one brush arm is curvilinear. 
     
     
         4 . The turf groomer according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one brush arm includes two sets of brushes. 
     
     
         5 . The turf groomer according to  claim 4  wherein the two sets of brushes are angled toward one another. 
     
     
         6 . The turf groomer according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one brush arm includes a brush arm height-adjustment mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The turf groomer according to  claim 1  comprising at least one brush extension member operatively connected to the at least one brush arm. 
     
     
         8 . The turf groomer according to  claim 7  comprising two brush extension members, wherein the at least one brush arm comprises a first end and a second end, and one of the two brush extension members is attached to the first end of the of the at least one brush arm, and the other brush extension member is attached to the second end. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The turf groomer according to  claim 1  further including a second brush arm. 
     
     
         11 . The turf groomer according to  claim 10  wherein the base structure has a front region and a rear region, and the second brush arm being located proximate the rear region. 
     
     
         12 . The turf groomer according to  claim 1  comprising at least one wheel operatively connected to the base structure. 
     
     
         13 . The turf groomer according to  claim 12  wherein the at least one wheel includes a wheel height-adjustment mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The turf groomer according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one rotating member includes a rotating member height-adjustment mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The turf groomer according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one rotating member is removable. 
     
     
         16 . The turf groomer according to  claim 1  further comprising a housing for the at least one rotating member. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The turf groomer according to  claim 1  wherein the plurality of rake tines include a tine height-adjustment mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . The turf groomer according to  claim 1  comprising a towing mechanism operatively connected to the base structure. 
     
     
         20 . The turf groomer according to  claim 1  comprising a static reducing device. 
     
     
         21 . The turf groomer according to  claim 20  wherein the static reducing device is a water tank. 
     
     
         22 . The turf groomer according to  claim 21  wherein the turf groomer has a center of mass and the location of the water tank is selected from the group consisting of proximate the center of mass of the groomer, proximate the at least one rotating member, and behind and operatively connected to the base structure. 
     
     
         23 . The turf groomer according to  claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary structure operatively attached to the base structure, the auxiliary structure including a brush arm extension member, and the auxiliary structure being movably connected to the base structure such that the auxiliary structure is capable of being positioned in a use and non-use position, wherein in the use position, the brush arm extension member is substantially aligned with the brush arm. 
     
     
         24 . A turf groomer comprising:
 a base structure;   at least one brush arm operatively connected to the base structure wherein the brush arm includes a plurality of arm segments;   at least one rotating member operatively connected to the base structure and distally spaced from the at least one brush arm, the at least one rotating member including one or more prongs extending radially from its center and positioned along an axis of rotation; and   a plurality of rake tines operatively connected to the base structure,   wherein the base structure has a front region and a rear region, and the at least one brush arm being located proximate the front region and,   wherein at least two adjacent arm segments of the at least one brush arm form an angle with respect to each other.   
     
     
         25 . A turf groomer comprising:
 a base structure;   at least one brush arm operatively connected to the base structure wherein the brush arm includes a plurality of arm segments;   at least one rotating member operatively connected to the base structure and distally spaced from the at least one brush arm, the at least one rotating member including one or more prongs extending radially from its center and positioned along an axis of rotation; and   a plurality of rake tines operatively connected to the base structure,   wherein the base structure has a front region and a rear region, and the at least one brush arm being located proximate the front region and,   wherein at least two adjacent arm segments of the at least one brush arm form a curvilinear shape.